Absolutely Yes becomes Danon Platina’s fourth stakes winner. (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Graeme Hawkins (Race Coast)
Absolutely Yes dug down deep to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in yesterday’s R250 000 Somerset 1200 (Listed) for two-year-olds at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Absolutely Yes was probably an unwilling early leader in a race devoid of initial pace as the 5-horse party ambled though the opening 600m, and the son of Danon Platina looked certain to be swallowed up by Churchillian and Three Tigers inside the last 100 metres. But Absolutely Yes refused to lie down under a powerful ride by JP van der Merwe and he kept on resolutely to ward off Churchillian and Three Tigers in a hard fought three-way-go to give Justin Snaith his fourth winner of the afternoon.
Absolutely Yes (9/4) was bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein out of the Tiger Ridge mare Maybe Yes, whose five wins included the KRA Fillies Guineas (Gr2). She’s My World (13/10) was smashed in the market prior to race time and supplanted Absolutely Yes at the top of the betting boards. The daughter of One World met with some late interference, but she appeared well held at that stage.
The opening race, a Juvenile Plate over 1500m, yielded a thrilling finish between Roland Garros, Randolph Hearst and All The Rage, all of whom are being teed up for a crack at the R500 000 Langerman (Gr3) over the same course and distance in three weeks’ time. Roland Garros (9/2) made the early running under Richard Fourie and rallied strongly in the closing stages when challenged on either side by Randolph Hearst (28/10) and All The Rage (9/10) to gain the verdict by the narrowest of margins. All three appear well above the average and we look forward to a possible re-match in the Langerman.
Apprentice Brevan Plaatjies has been making the most of the limited opportunities thrown his way and he was seen to good advantage on the Eric Sands-trained Russian Royal (5/1) in the second race, a Middle Stakes (F&M) over 1400m. Making full use of a very light weight, Plaatjies assumed control of the race from the jump and although Kamchatka (7/2) applied some pressure in the home straight, Russian Royal found another gear and stretched away to score comfortably.
The third race, a B Stakes over 1950m, produced a blanket finish with Ahead Of The Facts (8/1) getting up in the very last stride under JP van der Merwe to snatch victory from Pinot Grigio. The heavily supported Dubbelosix (11/10) went forward halfway through the race but found no extra when challenged by Ahead Of The Facts and Pinot Grigio and was beaten less than a length into third spot.
Fourie is now starting to forge ahead in the Jockeys’ Championship and he struck for a second time when steering Ariovistus (6/1) to a facile victory in the opening leg of the Pick 6, an Open Maiden over 1950m. The favourite Past And Present (17/10) ran a shocker, finishing well down the field, but the Piet Botha-trained Ariovistus quickened up smartly from a few lengths off a decent gallop and raced away to score by more than three lengths. Real Stunner (9/2) and Beautiful Side (9/2) completed the Trifecta ahead of Moment Of Truth who made some progress from the rear of the field.
For the third consecutive race meeting Fourie completed a hat-trick with a smooth and uncomplicated victory aboard the Justin Snaith-trained Swiatek in the fifth race, a Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1400m. La Divina was a late scratching at the starting gates, but fortunately for her supporters Swiatek was sent off as the tote favourite. Swiatek (2/1) turned for home in a midfield position but made good headway down the inside running rail and collared the pace-setting Rahhabba (25/1) inside the final 100m to win going away by more than a length. Oni San (28/10) stayed on for third with Supreme Fate (17/2) rounding out the Quartet.
Boogified, a good-looking 4yo gelded son of Justify (USA), attracted solid on-course support ahead of the running of the sixth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1400m, and he rewarded his fans with a storming start-to-finish victory under Corne Orffer. Scottish Kiss (15/2) was gaining rapidly over the final 200m but the post came in time for Boogified (7/2) to hold on by a diminishing half-a-length with Trippi’s Silk a well-beaten third.
Greg Ennion finally ended a long and frustrating absence from the winner’s enclosure when Surge Of Power (12/1) got the better of a protracted duel with Circumbendibus (2/1) to land the eighth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1200m. The pair joined issue a long way out with Surge Of Power finding that little bit extra under a good ride by Brevan Plaatjies to edge out the favourite by a neck. The 2yo Electromagnetism (5/1) took out the ninth race, a Class 5 Handicap (F&M) over 1200m, while the tenth race, a competitive Class 4 Handicap over 1700m, was won by the 8/1 chance Chasingtherainbow for James Crawford and Louis Mxothwa.
